Description
Train dogs for obedience, manners, sport, detection, security, or assistance work for people with disabilities. Socialize dogs to people, handling, and varied environments, and condition them to respond to verbal cues and hand signals. Prepare dogs and handlers to meet standards for trials, shows, and performances. May coach owners and train dogs to work in teams or carry light pack loads.
- • Observe dogs' physical condition to detect illness or issues requiring veterinary care.
- • Cue or signal dogs during demonstrations or performances.
- • Administer prescribed medications to dogs.
- • Evaluate dogs to determine temperament, drives, and trainability.
- • Feed, exercise, and groom dogs; clean kennels and training areas.
- • Socialize dogs and acclimate them to human voices, handling, and varied environments.
- • Keep records of training plans, progress, health, diet, and behavior.
- • Advise owners on selecting puppies or adult dogs suited to their goals and lifestyle.
- • Conduct individual lessons and group classes, coaching owners to maintain training at home.
- • Train dogs in assistance tasks for people with disabilities, such as guide, mobility, or alert work.
- • Train dogs for detection, protection, or security duties as required.
- • Prepare dogs and handlers for competition in sports such as agility, obedience, rally, or nose work.
- • Implement behavior modification to address issues such as reactivity, fear, barking, or resource guarding.
- • Use markers, verbal cues, and hand signals to teach and proof commands on and off leash.
- • Conduct training programs to develop and maintain desired behaviors for obedience, sport, or working roles.
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Agriculture
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
